Welcome to the SP Roundup, my daily fantasy baseball article reviewing every starting pitcher’s performance from every Saturday game. I apologize for the jokes written in my delirium in advance. Have questions? Ask me during my office hours on Twitch weekday mornings from 9 am-11 am ET.
Cristian Javier (HOU) @ NYY (W) – 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 115 pitches.
Despite the now 2.73 ERA for Cristian Javier this season, his path hasn’t been the cleanest. It took until the middle of May for Javier to turn into a proper starter for the Astros; his near 10% walk rate has made it unclear if he’s a Cherry Bomb or a dependable starter; and his command has fluctuated plenty start to start. Regardless of the journey, his destination was a marvelous 7.0 IP, 0 ER, 0 Hits, 1 BBs, 13 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 115 pitches performance against the Yankees last night, providing the foundation for an Astros combined no-hitter. Simply incredible.
The foundation wasn’t dramatically different from his previous successful outings — his four-seamer lived in the upper-third of the zone — but it came in about a tick harder (94.6 mph) and overwhelmed with 30% CSW and 13/79 whiffs. His breaker wasn’t as pristine as you’d think given the line, returning a sub 50% strike rate (14/30), which emphasizes the fastball’s dominance.
There really isn’t much more to say here. It was a fantastic night and I hope that fastball velocity stays up, while I shockingly want to see more from his repertoire in the breaker command. Weird, I know. Keep starting the young man as this is no country for old men.
Let’s see how every other SP did Saturday:
Logan Webb (SF) vs CIN (W) – 6.0 IP, 0 ER, 2 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 97 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. The dude deserves it with the run he’s been on and you should have no hesitations starting him these days.
Chris Archer (MIN) vs COL (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 78 pitches.
Hey, that’s five frames! Thanks for the Win for those that streamed Archer against Rockie Road. It’s such a low chance he makes it through five, though, and I don’t like gambling on this.
Spenser Watkins (BAL) @ CWS (W) – 5.0 IP, 0 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 78 pitches.
He stepped in for the injured Kyle Bradish and did a marvelous job, shockingly earning a 36% CSW on his heater despite losing over a tick of velocity to just 90.6 mph. So yeah, I’m not sure I’d lock Holmes Watkins into my lineup…ever.
Brett Martin (TEX) vs WSH (ND) – 1.0 IP, 0 ER, 1 Hits, 2 BBs, 0 Ks – 1 Whiffs, 12% CSW, 17 pitches.
He opened for Taylor Hearn, who went four no-hit frames with two walks and one strikeout (HAISTBMBWT?!) and that’s all we’re going to say here. Don’t touch Hearn.
Gerrit Cole (NYY) vs HOU (L) – 7.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 8 Ks – 19 Whiffs, 33% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. I remember how when I’d allow my first run of a game, my coach would always say We have to score to win. He did what he could, nothing you can do about a no-hitter, bucko.
Miles Mikolas (STL) vs CHC (ND) – 6.0 IP, 1 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 96 pitches.
The man just keeps cooking and we’re all so thrilled about it. Nine strikeouts are a massive shock, as he’s had just four games above six strikeouts this year, but hey, he can do it. That’s a 2.57 ERA and 0.97 WHIP so far this year as I can hear the “Who is this year’s Miles Mikolas?” conversations coming this winter and I’m not looking forward to it. The answer? Who the h*ck knows. This is a wonderful run from someone who hadn’t shown this since 2018. If I had him, I’d consider the trade market in my league to see what I could cash out for him — I guarantee you his second half won’t be close to this level of production — helpful, but not this.
Patrick Sandoval (LAA) vs SEA (ND) – 5.0 IP, 1 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 95 pitches.
The changeup was a bit better, the slider was solid, but he got a bit Singled Out and couldn’t quite turn the corner to reduce those balls in play. Sadly it’s the Astros next and I’m not so confident in Sandoval that I’d overlook the matchup. It’s a tough call.
Josiah Gray (WSH) @ TEX (ND) – 7.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 94 pitches.
Yesssssssss. Gray did something I’ve wanted him to do for a while: He went sub 30% fastballs, featuring his breaking balls and returned 37% CSW between them. And now he gets the Marlins?! Oh man, I’m in on this. Sure, it could be a one-day thing and his slider/curve command isn’t as sharp moving forward to allow him to do this, but I want to take that chance. It’s the dream I had in January for Gray: I wanted his second half, hoping he’d develop through the year. Maybe we’re seeing it now.
Max Fried (ATL) vs LAD (ND) – 6.2 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 9 Ks – 20 Whiffs, 36% CSW, 106 pitches.
Aces gonna ace. Start your aces against great offenses. You’ll be so happy you did more often than not.
Corey Kluber (TB) vs PIT (ND) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 35% CSW, 63 pitches.
It’s not the dream you had seeing Kluber against the Pirates, but we’ll absolutely take this to the bank. I’m glad you had your bliss before the reckoning ahead (@TOR + @BOS) and you should ask the tough questions here. Are you starting Kluber for those starts? If not, is he worth it to sit for two weeks? Always be searching for upgrades on the wire.
Josh Winckowski (BOS) @ CLE (W) – 5.1 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 4 Ks – 5 Whiffs, 32% CSW, 77 pitches.
If you streamed Josh, you were chasing a Win and I’m thrilled you got it. That WHIP is going to make me sleep just 40 Wincks, but if you want to chase the dubs, the Cubs are a decent bet next.
Zach Eflin (PHI) @ SD (W) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 80 pitches.
On one hand, I’m glad he was able to go five frames and get a Win, on the other the curve was meh and there’s nothing for us to get excited about while his volatility remains. No thanks.
Zach Davies (ARI) vs DET (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 5 Hits, 1 BBs, 2 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 75 pitches.
Was it stellar? Nah, but it worked as our streaming pick of the day. His changeup wasn’t as blissful as we’ve seen, but the Tigers are the Tigers and let’s thank them for that. You can move on now with Coors next.
Adrian Sampson (CHC) @ STL (ND) – 5.0 IP, 2 ER, 4 Hits, 2 BBs, 5 Ks – 12 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 80 pitches.
Sampson grew his hair back for this one, effectively stepping into the rotation for Caleb Kilian. I’m happy for him that this worked and a 47% CSW slider is cool across 17 thrown, but I’m not buying this being a real thing to consider. Everything is simply too pedestrian.
Yusei Kikuchi (TOR) @ MIL (L) – 2.0 IP, 2 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 69 pitches.
Yeeeeesh. His four-seamer was a tick down and its command was horrific — seriously, LOOK AT THIS — as Kikuchi was at least lucky to have his slider in the zone constantly. You really don’t want to gamble with Kikuchi.
Corbin Burnes (MIL) vs TOR (W) – 7.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 9 Ks – 18 Whiffs, 37% CSW, 105 pitches.
Aces gonna ace, en route to a King Cole. Sure, the 3 ER are slightly higher than you want, but that’s the Jays and the WHIP/Ks/W are glorious. That’s an ace.
Shane Bieber (CLE) vs BOS (L) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 28% CSW, 96 pitches.
Aces gonna kinda ace. We’re glad he kept his head above water, but the slider and curve returned a startlingly low 7/58 whiffs, despite leaning on the slider nearly half the time. Whatever, he survived the Sawx.
Chris Bassitt (NYM) @ MIA (W) – 7.0 IP, 3 ER, 6 Hits, 0 BBs, 5 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 90 pitches.
Ehhh, give me another ace-like start and I’ll give you the AGA label back. Not that this is bad, it just needs a little more meat on the bone, you know?
JT Brubaker (PIT) @ TB (ND) – 6.0 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 0 BBs, 6 Ks – 15 Whiffs, 30% CSW, 94 pitches.
A VPQS from Coffee Cakes ain’t the worst thing ever, but it’s also not enough in your standard leagues. He’s a tough play these days without a whole lot of encouragement as anything but a desperate streamer.
Logan Gilbert (SEA) @ LAA (W) – 5.2 IP, 3 ER, 9 Hits, 2 BBs, 7 Ks – 10 Whiffs, 23% CSW, 100 pitches.
Blegh. This was a Philly, as he was one out away from a VVVPQS as his secondaries still struggle to overwhelm batters. Whatever, Athletics and Padres await.
Jared Koenig (OAK) @ KC (ND) – 4.2 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 24% CSW, 83 pitches.
Yeaaaaaah, this isn’t the next Oakland starter to turn heads. Don’t go to Jared’s.
Trevor Rogers (MIA) vs NYM (ND) – 4.1 IP, 3 ER, 7 Hits, 1 BBs, 5 Ks – 11 Whiffs, 26% CSW, 86 pitches.
Womp womp. The slider and changeup weren’t nearly what they were in the previous outing — 5/41 whiffs here — though the changeup was located low consistently (the slider…not so much). I hope we get something to latch onto again soon, for now, he stays on the wire.
Mitch White (LAD) @ ATL (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 5 Hits, 2 BBs, 3 Ks – 8 Whiffs, 19% CSW, 75 pitches.
With Andrew Heaney hitting the IL, White stepped in and despite the strong slider, his four-seamer presented too much trouble. That’s the issue with White and makes his next start against the Padres highly questionable, even if he’s at 75 pitches and San Diego struggling against right-handers. He’s not a pick-up I’d make in 12-teamers.
Alex Faedo (DET) @ ARI (ND) – 4.0 IP, 3 ER, 3 Hits, 3 BBs, 4 Ks – 7 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 75 pitches.
I was hoping this would be a bounceback start to help us regain confidence in Faedo, but sadly his slider was meh and not even the Diamondbacks could pull him back. Womp womp.
Blake Snell (SD) vs PHI (L) – 5.2 IP, 4 ER, 6 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 17 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 94 pitches.
Bleeeegh. Not only did he give fantasy managers a poor line, he did so while fracturing Bryce Harper’s thumb. Even if I’m thrilled to see nine curveball whiffs, the fastball command isn’t where it needs to be and it’s too large of a problem to overlook right now. No way I’m starting him against the Dodgers.
Antonio Senzatela (COL) @ MIN (L) – 5.0 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 6 Ks – 13 Whiffs, 29% CSW, 87 pitches.
Senz-A, please. I have work to do.
Brad Keller (KC) vs OAK (L) – 3.2 IP, 4 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 9 Whiffs, 20% CSW, 93 pitches.
Awwwwww. I was hoping Keller could return a PQS at least against the mediocre Athletics, but it simply wasn’t meant to be. These coin flips are frustrating, to say the least. It’s why the goal isn’t to stream, but to find someone through streaming you hold onto.
Lance Lynn (CWS) vs BAL (L) – 6.2 IP, 5 ER, 6 Hits, 1 BBs, 8 Ks – 23 Whiffs, 31% CSW, 109 pitches.
Confliction! My old friend, how are you? Still working in the international diplomatic field? Of course you are, good, good, yeah so WHAT ON EARTH DO WE DO WITH THIS? We ignore the ERA because it was a Careful, Icarus from a horrid final frame. Ohhh right. The seventh frame that contained two HBP, a walk, and an infield single that lead to three runs scoring. His four-seamer was better (still a bit down in velocity but 16 whiffs, propelling a Gallows Pole) and it does seem like he’s looking more like his good self. I’m in on buying low here.
Mike Minor (CIN) @ SF (L) – 5.0 IP, 6 ER, 8 Hits, 2 BBs, 4 Ks – 6 Whiffs, 27% CSW, 96 pitches.
Oh dear. Yeah, this is a Frozen Banana that no one is taking even a gander at right now.
Game of the Day
Tony Gonsolin vs. Spencer Strider – This is going to be such a fun Sunday Night Baseball game.
But Nick?! Where are the streaming picks? – I’ve moved them to the daily SP Matchups & Streamer Rankings article.
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Photo by Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)